Breaker frame construction



June 17,1958 R. D. sTRuB BREAKER FRAME CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 21, 1956 ATTORNEY June 17, 1958 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 R. D.STRUB BREAKER FRAME CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBERT D. STRUBINVENTOR ATTORNEY June 17, 1958 R. D. STRUB 2,83

BREAKER FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 21, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ROBERTD. STRUB IN VENTOR ATTORNEY June 11, 1958'. R. D; STRUB 2,8

BREAKER FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 21, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IINVENTOR ROBERT D. STRUB Jv-w Ma ATTORNEY BREAKER FRAME CONSTRUCTIONApplication February 21, 1956, Serial No. 566,861

2 Claims. or. 312- 214 This invention generally relates to an inner doorstructure for cabinets and more particularly to an improved breakerframe construction for refrigerators and cabinets having refrigeratedcompartments.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a breaker frame whichspans the area between an inner door pan and an outer door shell thusproviding a neat and attractive finished appearance. The breaker frameis substantially rectangular and is attached to the periphery of theouter door shell by means of screws or other suitable fastening deviceswhich are in turn overlapped by a gasket which seals about the peripheryof the door when it is closed. At the inner periphery of the breakerframe an integral channel overlaps the edgeof the inner door pan in'sucha manner that unsightly junctions and joints are avoided and at the sametime the necessity for additional fastening means is completelyeliminated.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a new andnovel breaker frame for use on an inner structure of a refrigeratorcabinet which not only spans the distance between the outer door shelland the inner door pan in an improved manner but also the breaker frameitself extends beyond the plane of the inner periphery of the inner doorpan and in combination with it defines an even deeper compartment withinthe refrigerator door itself. The breaker frame, of course, has a top,bottom and two side walls. Beginning at the bottom of each side wall andto a point slightly more than half way upward along the length of theside wall are two extensions of the breaker frame beyond the plane ofthe inner periphery of the inner door pan. These side wall extensionsareoppositely disposed, are identical, and are offset centrally a distancesufficient to align the inner surfaces thereof with the same plane as anextension of the side wall of the inner door pan itself.

Another object of my invention was to provide as an integral part of theimproved breaker frame a horizontal reinforcing planar member. Thismember is integral with the extreme top edges of the side wallextensions,.and extends therebetween as an additional feature of thisimproved breaker frame. To add greater structural rigidity, this planarmember is transversely flanged along its top edge throughout its entirelength.

Another object of my invention is to provide a vertical retaining wallfor a shelf even though the edge of this shelf itself, which ispositioned within the inner door pan, extends a substantial distancebeyond the edge of the inner door pan. This is of course made possibleby constructing the breaker frame in such a manner that it can suitablysupport a horizontal member in horizontal spaced relation beyond theplane described by the terminal flanges of the inner door pan.

it is also an object of my invention to provide a continuous one-piecebreaker frame havingintegral thcre with a vertical shelf retaining walland also side wall extensions which increase the suitable storage spaceby inil States lfiatnt creasing the size of the refrigeratorcompartment.

By combining many features in a continuous one-piece molded structure,it is readily apparent that assembling costs would be substantiallyreduced in the manufacturing process.

It is further object to provide oppositely disposed sidewall extensionsin a breaker frame construction having a rigidifying integral memberlongitudinally disposed along the remote edges thereof.

These and otherobjects will become clear to those skilled in the artwhen considered with the drawings which are submitted as a part of thisapplication, and the description which follows.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination freezer and refrigeratorshowing the breaker frame construction on the interior of therefrigerator door; 1

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the breaker frame construction;6

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing my breaker frame attached tothe outer door shell and the side wall extensions;

Figure 4 is a vertical view taken on line IVIV of Figure 2;

t Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the breaker frametaken on line V.-V of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the breaker frame takenon line VI-Vl of Figure 2; t

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a partialinterior of my breaker frame construction.

As shown in thedrawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a combination freezer and refrigerator cabinet 10which encloses a freezer compartment at the bottom and a refrigeratorcompartment 11 at the top. These compartmentsmay be cooled by anysuitable refrigeration systemsuch as the conventional one which utilizesa compressor, a condenser and an evaporator operatiyely connected. Therefrigerator compartment 11 is provided with shelves 12., conventionalfood storage containers l3, and a control knob 14 which may beselectively set to assure the proper and desired amount of cooling. Adoor 15 covers the access opening of the freezer compartment and a door16, attached to the cabinet ltl by hinges 17, provides an air tightcover for the front access opening 18 of the refrigerator compartmentill. The refrigerator door 16 includes a new and unique inner doorstructure which constitutes my invention and particularly embodies animproved breaker frame 19.

p The refrigerator door 16 includes a deep-drawn outer door shell 20,preferably metal, and an inner door pan 21 also deep-drawn andpreferably metal. The outer door shell has a transversely arcuate topwall 22 and substantiallystraight side walls 23 and bottom wall Z -t.Integral with these Walls and substantially perpendicular thereto is aterminal flange 25 which completely circum' scribesthe inner periphery26 of the outer door shell 20. The inner door pan 21 seats partiallywithin the recess 27 which is formed bythe outer door shell aspreviously described. The inner door pan 21 is rigidly attached by anysuitable thermal barrier (not shown) at its four corners to the outerdoor shell 20. Thus the inner door pan 21 when secured in positionassists in rigidifying the refrigerator door 16 and is maintained inspace relationship to the outer door shell 2b as best shown in Figure 4.The recess 27 which is not occupied by the inner door pan 21 is filledwith any suitable thermal insulation material such as, for instance,fiberglas.

With the exception of an embossment 28, the back wall 29' of the innerdoor pan 21 is flat. A top Wall 30, a bottom wall 31, and side walls 32are all straight and substantially perpendicular to the back wall 29 ofthe inner door 3 pan 21. The walls 30, 31 and 32 together with the wall29 form an integral structure, the inner door pan 21, which structure isfurther defined by a terminal offset edge 33 completely circumscribingthe, walls and integral therewith.

It will be noted that While the pan 2]. extends partially Within therecess 27 of the outer door shell it extends an even greater distanceoutwardly from the recess whereby a comparatively large compartment 34is provided at the inner side of the refrigerator door 16. Horizontal Lshelves 35 and 36 are secured within the compartment 34 and protrudeoutwardly beyond the terminal edge 33 of the pan 21 as best showninFigure l.

The breaker frame 19 spans the distance between the terminal offset edge33 of the inner door pan 21 and the terminal flange 25 of the outer doorshell 20. A flange 37 completely circumscn'bes the outer periphery ofthe breaker frame 19 and when assembled lies adjacent the terminalflange 25 and is rigidly attached thereto by means of. screws 38 orother suitable fastening means. As best shown in Figure 2, the breakerframe 19 is substantially rectangular in configuration having straightside portions 39 and 40, a straight top portion 41, and a straightbottom portion 42, all interconnected by rounded corners 43, 44, and 46.breaker frame 19 is comprised of a peripheral flange 37 and integraltherewith and extending centrally an arcuate section 47 which alsoextends outwardly from the plane described by the terminal flange 25 andlies in spaced relation to the walls 30, 31, and 32 of the inner doorpan 21. Extending further outwardly and integral with the transversearcuate section 47 is a straight wall section 48 which is maintained inspaced relation to the walls 31, 32 and 33 of the inner door pan 21 andis substantially parallel thereto. Integral with the top wall 41, thebottom wall 42 and the upper parts 49 and 50 of the side walls 39 and 40respectively, is an inwardly opening channel which overlaps the terminaloffset edge 33 of the inner door pan 21. Since the pan 21 is rigidlysecured to the outer door shell 20, the nesting relationship of the edge33 within the channel 55 sufficiently rigidifies the breaker frame 19such that it is not necessary to use any additional fastening means inthe areas just described. In addition this provides a very neatappearance and tends to lower the cost of manufacture as well asenhancing the esthetic value of the inner door surface.

Integral with the side walls 39 and 40 and extending from point 56 topoint 57 are side wall extensions 58 and 59 which protrude outwardlybeyond the plane described by the edge 33 and are substantially normalthereto. These side wall extensions 58 and 59 are offset vertically tolie in substantially the same plane as that of the side walls 23 of theinner door pan 21, thus cooperating to make the food storage compartment34 even larger. Each side wall extension is provided with an inwardlyopening channel 60 along its outer edge 61 similar to the channel shownat 55. A filler panel 62 seats with in the channel 60 and overlies aterminal edge 33 thereby providing a smooth and finished appearance fromthe interior of the compartment 34 as best shown in Figure 7.

Integral with the breaker frame 19 and extending horizontally across itsinner periphery at the approximate center is a vertical retaining'wall63. This vertical retaining wall 63 extends between the tops 64 and 65of the side wall extensions 58 and 59 respectively. It lies along theoutside edge 66 of the horizontal shelf 35 and seats within a groove 67thereof, thereby serving as a vertical retaining barrier for that shelf.The wall 63 is provided with a horizontal flange 68 at its top edgethroughout its entire length which, in addition to the strength suppliedby groove 67, further rigidifies the wall 63 so that it will withstandprolonged usage and even violent opening and closing of the door 16. Itis to be noted that the breaker frame 19, which is com- In cross sectionthe prised of the flange 37, an arcuate section 47, the straight wallsection 48, the channel 55, the side wall extensions 58 and 59, channels60 and the vertical retaining wall 63, is an integral one-piecestructure.

It is conventional for the latch 69 to protrude through opening 70 inthe breaker frame 19. It is also well known to provide a sealing means71 about the outer periphery of the door 16.

By my invention I have provided an inner door structure which combinesmany features of esthetic value, economy and utility. A largecompartment 34 is provided for the storage of large quantities of foodwhich are easily accessible. In addition, by utilizing a portion of therefrigerator compartment 11 for the inner door structure as disclosed bymy invention, the shelves 12 within the compartment 11 are smaller andthus more easily accessible at the remote corners thereof. Since myinner door structure extends a considerable distance within therefrigerated compartment 11, optimum humidity and cooling conditions aremaintained for the storage of selected foods.

These and numerous other advantages will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. For instance, in the assembling process during manufacture,after the inner door pan is positioned within the outer door shell, itis only necessary to handle one piece which provides an attractivebreaker frame, a deep food storage compartment and a shelf retainingwall in one simple operation.

Thus it may be seen that I have provided an improved inner doorstructure for the storage of food and in particular an improved breakerframe for the inner surface of a refrigerator door. Although only onepreferred form has been illustrated and described in detail, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may bemade in my invention without departing from the spirit or from the scopeof the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a refrigerator door, a deep drawn substantially rectangular onepiece shell, a deep drawn substantially rectangular one piece panmounted in said shell in spaced relation thereto and projecting for themajor portion of its depth beyond the inner side of said shell, said panbeing of materially less height and width than said shell and the latterhaving at its inner side a peripheral flange extending inwardly thereofsubstantially perpendicular to its top and bottom and side walls, saidpan being open at its inner side and having the terminal edge portionsof its top and bottom and side walls offset outwardly, and a one piecebreaker frame extending between said shell and pan having at its outerend a peripheral flange seating on and secured to said flange of saidshell, said frame having at its inner end a peripheral channel openingtoward and receiving said outwardly offset terminal edge portions ofsaid walls of said pan in nested relation effective for supporting theinner portion of said frame and concealing said offset terminal edgeportions, said breaker frame having at the lower portions of the sideWalls thereof integral extensions projecting therebeyond substantiallyin the planes of the side walls of said pan and being provided with atransverse reinforcing wall integrally connecting the upper portions ofsaid extensions.

2. In a refrigerator door, a deep drawn substantially rectangular onepiece shell, a deep drawn substantially rectangular one piece panmounted in said shell in spaced relation thereto and projecting for themajor portion of its depth beyond the inner side of said shell, said panbeing of materially less height and width than said shell and the latterhaving at its inner side a peripheral flange extending inwardly thereofsubstantially perpendicular to its top and bottom and side walls, saidpan being open at its inner side and having the terminal edge portionsof its top and bottom and side walls offset outwardly, and a one piecebreaker frame extending between said shell pan having at its outer end aperipheral flange seating on and secured to said flange of said shell,said frame having at its inner end a perpiheral channel opening towardand receiving said outwardly offset terminal edge portions of said Wallsof said pan in nested relation effective for supporting the innerportion of said frame and concealing said offset terminal edge portions,said breaker frame having at the lower portions of the side wallsthereof integral extensions projecting therebeyond substantially in theplanes of the side walls of said pan and being provided with atransverse reinforcing Wall integrally connecting the upper portions ofsaid extensions, and a horizontal shelf mounted in said pan andReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,280,254 Nave Apr. 21, 1942 2,718,446 Hinkel Sept. 20, 1955 2,729,863Kurtz Jan. 10, 1956

